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All Natural Lip Balm

The week leading up to the new year wasn't exactly how I had pictured it. It was the last week of the boys winter break. I had envisioned walks around downtown looking at the lights, taking down the Christmas tree together, continuing our holiday baking marathon and maybe even a little post Christmas mall browsing. But alas, none of those things happened.
The flu happened.
Or rather, what I guess must have been the flu. Whatever it was took whatever energy (and appetite) I had left to give 2011.

Thankfully, I had made a big batch of lip balm the week before Christmas to give as little handmade gifts to my girlfriends. Thankfully because....well when this girl is sick, she need the comfort of chapstick.

This recipe is super simple. The only hang up I ran across was getting the honey to mix completely into the coconut oil. And beesewax takes alot longer to melt than I had anticipated.
Otherwise it was a really fun afternoon project. I am left only to kick myself for spending so much money on drugstore lip balms all these years.

The recipe came from this blog last year and I tweaked it a bit and she grabbed it from this book where she had tweaked it a bit.

Place oil, beeswax and honey in a double boiler (or heatproof bowl resting on top of a small saucepan of simmering water). (As a side note, I picked up an extra double boiler thrifting that I use just for beeswax crafts, which really makes cleanup easier.) Heat gently until everything has melted.

Remove mixture from heat, and add peppermint oil and lipstick. Stir until blended.

Place the pan or bowl in a larger bowl full of cold water. Stir quickly until the mixture begins to change in consistency (it will become thicker).

Pour mixture into containers, place covers on, and let sit to cool and set up.

(fills approximately one dozen 1/2 oz tins)

I, for the life of me, cannot find the website for the supplier of the lip balm containers I bought. I did stumble across this one which has a nice selection. Not as cheap as what I had originally ordered but pretty reasonable.

Here's to a great 2012~ I have lots to look forward to. Maybe a little R&R to start off the first of the year is just what the doctor ordered.

Thats a good idea too, Krist! I hadn't considered. Since buying coconut oil (my first time) I have switched over to using it to pop popcorn instead of our previous oil choice. So yummy!!!! It has alot of health benefits. I need to read up on it more. Sorry for the sickness in your neck of the woods. It doesn't seem anything can put a damper on those gorgeous Australian beach days, though~

Great question Stacy! I found the beeswax at our local food co-op. I had asked at Whole Foods and they don't carry it (atleast not at ours here in Lexington). I was able to find all of the ingredients at the co-op, actually. Good luck! :)

I have a tin of Rose Salve that's lasted years and was wondering if the homemade salves last as long? If so, I would love to try this and experiment with different essential oils--thanks so much for sharing!-Melinda

one thing to try to prevent the honey from separating is to add it at the end, after the mixture has cooled a bit. You also want to add your essential oils at the end too after it has cooled slightly (less chance for the essential oil to degrade)

Thanks for the info on suppliers! I love the idea of screw top lids. They are a bit more pricey but they would last a bit longer and might be easier to find in the bottom of a purse (...that may or may not be the case with me ;)

What nice labels and an easy way to make lip balm. I have everything on hand and want to try this soon! My guess on how long they would last -- check the expiration date on the coconut oil or honey. Since these items would most likely deteriorate the quickest, I'd make that the expiration date on the lip balms. I got my beeswax @ Michael's or Hobby Lobby. I think most craft stores carry it.

you make it sound so easy,think i'll have to try this one. I have saved a number of "altoids" gum tins knowing there must be a good reuse for them.!Now I have one!! There are a number of little tins out there. You could also use the little tins that mints come in. thanks again

I use organic coconut oil and local bees wax. It is perfect all year round - never leave it in a hot car though! I like the plastic twist tubes and I use a shoe box that I cut x's into for the stand to hold the tubes while I fill them. I find this very affordable and they make wonderful gifts. I get my tubes here: http://www.chemistrystore.com/cart.cgi?group=75096&child=75107

i recently made this lip balm for my brother's girlfriend as it was her 25th birthday. i really try to handmake all of my gifts and they're usually sewn.i had never tried anything like this before. this blog was very straight-forward and i am happy to say that my lip balm making was a success.i used the website that was provided to buy my tins and bought all of the other materials at the co-op in Lawrence, KS. i ended up having 19 of the small sized tins filled to the brim with lip balm. i wasn't going to give emily 19 lip balms for a lifetime supply, so i gave the excess out to some of the lovely women in my office (and a few of the men) as well as to my boyfriend's mother and one for him also. they LOVE it! after the gift giving and samples given at work, they're all gone with only one left for myself... a second batch is needed already, although i will do a smaller one!thank you for posting such a great blog (the comments also helped me as they answered most of my questions and reassured me before i made the lip balm).i, for one, will never buy store bought lip balm again. i calculated the cost of materials alone and for each tin it was around $0.80 to make. why would you EVER buy from the store when you can make it so inexpensively? it doesn't dry out my lips like Burt's does either--so smooth and moisturizing. again, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Those are good thoughts. I purchased my beeswax at our local health food store in the beauty aisle. I hadn't considered there would be other forms of beeswax not safe for skin. Thats a good thing to check into. Thanks!

Growing up on the farm we always made our own "beauty products". There was nothing better than Grammy's Rosemary Mint Lip Balm. Your recipe reminded me of when we'd stand on our step stools (Grammy was only 4'5") at the stove, slowing stirring a batch of balm. Thank you for bring back such a sweet memory.

Some essential oils are NOT meant to be ingested. Some essential oils should NOT be used during pregnancy or while nursing. Always check the label (if you can read the tiny writing on the bottle) or go to the manufacturer's website.

I too use Aura Cacia in my lotions & some other body products so I thought I'd pass on their product safety link.

Okay, so I tried this recipe. The first try was not successful--the honey separated from the wax/oil mixture. Here are a few tips: 1. Ratio of 8 parts oil to 3 parts beeswax makes a fairly firm, waxy balm. Change the proportions if you want something softer. 2. Change the proportions to TRY the recipe without making a huge amount. For instance, use 1/4 teaspoon as the measure and the 8:2 or 8:1 ratio of oil to beeswax. 3. The honey is the hardest part to incorporate. I had a glob of honey in the bottom of the pots. I had to scrape all of it out and redo the batch. The key is to melt the wax and oil together, then add the honey and stir stir stir until it is fully incorporated and the mixture starts to thicken/change texture. THEN pour. 4. Instead of a double boiler, I made this in the microwave. I used a microwave-safe measuring cup and added the oil and wax. Just zap using a lower power and in 30-second increments, stirring with a wooden craft stick as you go. Take it out, stir a bit and then add the honey and essential oil as it's cooling.

Hi Megan, I didn't go through all comemnts, but I have found very reasonably priced lip balm tins on ETSY (whereelse ?! :))http://www.etsy.com/search/supplies?search_submit=&q=lip+balm+tin&view_type=gallery

Lot's to chose from. I'll be testing the recipe as soon as I manage to find all theingredients :)

What type of raw honey do you use? Is this honey that has not been heated? I found this site http://www.ebeehoney.com/honey_varieties.htmland it talks about the raw honey, but has many different flavors. Not sure what to buy. Any ideas? Thanks for the help!

Raw honey is usually an soft yellowish white and has not been heated to clear golden. It has very small amounts of bee propolis and beeswax still in it. The flavor is excellent and health benefits are great. The different flavors are from what the bees were pollinating at the time. I would stick to regular if you are going to flavor your balm so not to confuse your scents and/or flavors. But if a honey flavor matches what you want to do then try it!

Three more tips about honey you might not know. 1)Egyptians used honey in the embalming process because of its preserving elements. 2)Honey because of its healing attributes can be used to cover a wound and speed up the healing process. 3) A fantastic salad dressing can be made by adding honey to a favorite oil and vinegar dressing. Shake/blend the dressing well. The oil and vinegar will not separate as oils normally do. If let to sit they will again separate but a good shaking will re-combine them. I use a light blend of coconut and walnut oils with balsamic vinegar and spices topped with raw honey for a dressing that will bring compliments flowing to the chef!

For folks considering citrus oils in their DIY cosmetics, be aware that many citrus essential oils are considered photosensitizers--they make the skin they're applied to more sensitive to UV, basically. Some types of citrus and some distillation methods avoid this, so with a little extra shopping, you can have your citrus kiss without risking a sunburned kisser. :)

I love this!! Its soooo simple! Other receipes calls for soo many oils and ingredients its overwhelming since I'm just learning! I was wondering those cards that you use are really cute, do you happen to have that template or is that just your slogan/card? Its very pretty but I dont want to take away from your work :) just thought id ask! Thank you!!!

Another commenter described raw honey as being "soft yellowish white". This is incorrect. I would guess you have confused whipped honey for raw. Truly "raw" honey is simply honey that has not been processed, pasturized, heated or added to with flavors or fillers. Pure raw honey never goes bad, although it may crystallize over time. Crystallized honey can be heated to return it to its natural syrupy consistency. I reccomend shopping for local true "raw" honey. Unfortunately, here in the States, honey that is not classified as "raw" can contain other ingredients (most often corn syrup!) as a filler. As a side note, I can't wait to try this recipe! We added a second hive in my yard this year & we harvested ALOT of honey. I will definetly be making lip balm for Christmas gifts!

I noticed in your pictures that you used orange essential oil in your lip balm. All citrus oils are photosynthesising which means that should the lip balm be applied before going out into the sunlight, there is a much higher risk of getting sunburnt on the area. Just a warning to any who wish to use citrus oils! Please stay away from direct sunlight for 4 - 8 hours!

My husband has recently started keeping bees, so I have some fresh beeswax to use. It's crumbled, not solid and needing to be shredded, so I'm wondering about measuring it. Should I pack it into the spoons to measure it?

I have all-natural BeesWax pellets but then it says not for use in cosmetics or consumption?? But its only ingredient is Beeswax... Should I use it or not? I've seen other people grating candles and stuff for lip balms so I can't see what the difference would be.

please use organic or pesticide free beeswax! if you just use any beeswax like candle grade, it can contain nasty things that don't belong on delicate lips--or in mouths!!!i'm looking forward to this project. thanks for all the tips! i was going to do orange oil but after seeing the sun issue, will change flavor or stick w honey. i am using food grade castor oil instead of coconut. basics of polymer chemistry tell us that the type of oil used totally matters w/r/t texture. beeswax is very saturated--hard at room temp. coconut oil less but still more saturated. will make a firmer balm even at same ratio compared to any oil that is liquid at room temp. shea butter is like coconut oil but even harder, so to speak--more saturated. for a winter gift, a softer balm is easier to use. for a summer gift, a harder balm will stay better. and i love sliding lid tins, but in the heat, they may leak all over one's purse...

Will adding Vitamin E oil to the mixture change its consistency? I read that peppermint essential oil is one you should not use on your skin...is this true? Does the coconut oil cause the lip balm to melt if its in sunlight or ones pocket, being that its melting point is 76degrees??

Megan, I would love to sample and buy several of your lip balms...would you be willing? I live in Sandy, 801-759-1195. Please call and let me know, and if you don't want to sell any can you connect me with anyone who would? Thanks, Cheryl

Found this recipe on Pinterest last week. Made it today. OMG'ness. Silky smooth, I just cant stop smacking my lips together (and I Dont even wear lip balm, usually). I used a Tasmainian beechwood honey. It has a gorgeous flavour and found I didnt need to use any essential oils. Silky smooth honey flavoured lip balm. I have been converted. Thank you so much for sharing

I made a few batches at Christmas time, I put them in tins and tubes. After having used some of them, they have a gritty/sandy looking texture. you really have to rub it over your lips for a while for it to smooth out. Has anyone else had this problem? How would I fix this in the future?

hello :) this looks like a great recipe and i'm looking forward to trying it. one question for you. above it says this recipe makes about one dozen half ounce tins, but based on the photos it looks like these are the 1/4 oz tins? Just trying to make sure i purchase the right size tins before i try. are those cards that you stuck them to about index card size? based on the dimensions i'm seeing online i would think these would be quarter ounce.

HI! I'm considering making this lip balm as a Christmas gift for some friends and family this year. I read through the comments and had the same question as another person but never saw an answer. Is there a template or what did you use for the cute card you placed the lip balm on?? Did you glue the tins in some way or how did you get them to stick to the cards? Thank you! Kayla

Hi, I've just made some lip balm using your recipe. At the end my mixture cooled so quickly I wasn't able to pour it into the containers. (It's lovely anyway). I wondered if it is okay to gently reheat the mixture so it can be poured. Or was my water mixture just too cold?

Re containers - I super-thrift and use sample pots left over from Body Shop sampling (did you know you can ask for mini samples of all their products??). They used to do neat little screw-top pots, and I would just spray-paint the lids to cover the logo, but they've switched to doing flip-top ones which are a bit more difficult to open :-( Re reheating the mixture, madmum, I have had to do this with my lip balm and it works fine. I've also used olive oil in my recipe, along with almond oil. I'll try coconut oil next!!

Wow that' a simple yet very effective way of using an unburned beeswax from candles. I will definity link to your post on my blog so that people would know that all beeswax can be reused! Thank you for the idea :)

Here are some places to get the small tins:https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/catalog/containers/tinshttp://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin7.htmlhttp://www.freundcontainer.com/tins/c/67/http://www.chemistrystore.com/Lip_Balm_Tins-1_2_oz_Metal_Lip_Balm_Tin.htmlhttp://www.specialtybottle.com/tinflatcontainer12ozwraisedlidcover.aspxhttp://rusticescentuals.com/Small-Pots-and-Jarshttps://www.etsy.com/search/supplies?search_submit=&q=lip+balm+tin&view_type=gallery

i love this and im going to make it for my aunt ! i was wondering if you wouldnt mind if i could use your little card that you made with it that i could attach to it when i give it to her? if so can you please send me a printable verson of the card? thanks so much and i love your idea !!

Just made these this afternoon as homemade Christmas gifts, but I used 1&1/2 tsp of homemade vanilla extract instead as had no essential oils. Smells and looks lovely, thank you for sharing this and with nice photos too :)

Hey Megan,I found your blog when trying to find something to do for Christmas presents and made a few lip balms for friends and family. It went really well and people loved it.So I just wanted to say thanks for sharing this recipe! <3

The overall idea is definitely practical and awesome at the same time. I would definitely be working on this in the future! I've tried several organic lip glosses and so far, the one that I love most is from PLA's. It is made of organic ingredients too. And I would want to create something similar to it. Anyway, in case you are interested with it, i'd like to share to you that they are having a promotion. Buy 2 organic lip glosses and get a free mascara! Just use code MASCARA when you checkout. Until 6/30/15 only.

Hello & Welcome

I’m Megan Smith. Mom of three boys and wife of Mr. Handsome for the past many years. I’m the founder and editor of a quarterly international print publication, which keeps me quite busy speaking, editing, traveling and tasking. As much as I love my work, my heart will always be bent towards the home. Baking, sewing, crafting, creating, decorating, entertaining and cooking. Nothing brings me more joy than creating home.
You can read more about my life and work here. Thanks so much for visiting and feel free to drop me a note anytime. I love letters from near and afar~